Ogun to benefit from N36.15 billion ICT infrastructure
Governor Abiodun Ogun State. Photo; TWITTER/DABIODUNMFR
Ogun State is to benefit from an N36.15 billion Information and Communications Technology (ICT) project, which is expected to fast-track its digital economy plan.
The project, which is in partnership with 21st Century Technologies, will help the state government execute the Ogun State Digital Economic Empowerment Project (OGDEP). 21st Century injected close to $75 million to the project in the expectation that the initiative would see the economy of Ogun State grow by an additional $100 billion.
The mega project was flagged off at the weekend by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in the presence of the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami; Executive Vice Chairman of Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, and representatives from the National Assembly and other industry stakeholders.
Osinbajo, at the flag-off ceremony, commended Ogun State for taking a bold step in spearheading the move for an overall digital economy in the country.
The Vice President, who launched the project virtually, acknowledged the urgent need to democratise access to the Internet in the country, adding that digital technology is the future of all aspects of human existence.
He said: “This project is a critical component of the President’s objective of broadband connectivity for all by 2023. This ambition is now enshrined in the economic sustainability plan.
“In another demonstration of government’s commitment, the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy launched the National Broadband Plan, which is designed to deliver data download speeds across Nigeria of a minimum 25Mbps in urban areas and 10Mbps in rural areas with effective coverage available to at least 90 per cent of the population by 2025 at affordable prices.”
Osinbajo also commended 21st Century Technologies for its huge commitments to the project, adding that this would revolutionise every aspect of the socio-economic life of Ogun State.
In his remarks, Vice Chairman/CEO of 21st Century Technologies Limited, Wale Ajisebutu, affirmed that the initiative would see all business sectors and citizens of Ogun State operate digitally, using fibre networks infrastructure, knowledge infrastructure and marketing and network.
The state governor, Dapo Abiodun, said the strategy of OGDEP was to provide broadband connectivity to every corner of Ogun State.
